Improving the Abel transform inversion using bending angles from FORMOSAT-3/COSMIC

The FORMOSAT-3/COSMIC satellite constellation has become an important tool toward providing global remote sensing data for sounding of the atmosphere of the earth and the ionosphere in particular. In this study, the electron density profiles are derived using the Abel transform inversion. Some drawbacks of this transform in LEO GPS sounding can be overcome by considering the separability concept: horizontal gradients of vertical total electron content (VTEC) information are incorporated by the inversion method, providing more accurate electron density determinations. The novelty presented in this paper with respect to previous works is the use of the phase change between the GPS transmitter and the LEO receiver as the main observable instead of the ionospheric combination of carrier phase observables for the implementation of separability in the inversion process. Some of the characteristics of the method when applied to the excess phase are discussed. The results obtained show the equivalence of both approaches but the method exposed in this work has the potentiality to be applied to the neutral atmosphere. Recent FORMOSAT-3/COSMIC data have been processed with both the classical Abel inversion and the separability approach and evaluated versus colocated ionosonde data.     

Evaluating the effect of the global ionospheric map on aiding retrieval of radio occultation electron density profiles

Radio occultation (RO) has been proven to be a powerful technique for ionospheric electron density profile (EDP) retrieval. The Abel inversion currently used in RO EDP retrieval has degraded performance in regions with large horizontal gradients because of an assumption of spherical symmetry as indicated by many studies. Some alternative methods have been proposed in the past; the global ionospheric map (GIM)-aided Abel inversion is most frequently studied. Since the number of RO observations will likely increase rapidly in the near future, it is worthwhile to continue to improve retrieval method. In this study, both the simulations and the real data test have been done to evaluate the GIM-aided Abel inversion method. It is found that the GIM-aided Abel inversion can significantly improve upon the standard Abel inversion in either the F or the E region if an accurate GIM is available. However, the current IGS GIM does not appear accurate enough to improve retrieval results significantly, because of the spherical symmetry assumption and sparse global navigation satellite system (GNSS) stations used in its creation. Generating accurate GIM based on dense GNSS network to aid the Abel inversion might be an alternative method.     

区域监测站与低轨卫星数据联合测定MEO卫星轨道

我国北斗二代系统(BDS)地面运控监测站数量较少且为区域分布,短期内难以实现全球建站,因此对全球运行的中圆地球轨道卫星(MEO)难以形成连续多重覆盖观测,导致BDS的MEO实时轨道精度偏低。基于上述问题,本文考虑到低轨卫星星载GNSS数据可以有效弥补区域监测站在空间覆盖及几何结构上的不足,设计了一种将星载GNSS接收机作为高动态天基监测站,联合地面区域监测站数据对卫星导航系统的MEO卫星轨道进行实时解算预报的方法。算例结果显示:7个区域监测站联合1至3个天基监测站,其定轨精度可分别提升约21%、34%和55%,这也表明,地面区域监测站联合天基低轨卫星数据可有效提高MEO卫星的轨道精度。建议我国BDS在区域测站分布阶段可采用联合低轨卫星数据方法提高北斗MEO卫星实时轨道精度。     

不同轨道类型LEO卫星轨道拟合及预报精度研究

低轨道地球卫星(LEO)的精度直接影响到LEO卫星的应用领域,因此研究合适的模型提高LEO卫星轨道插值/预报精度是一项很有意义且必要的工作. 本文详细研究了滑动切比雪夫多项式、克里金算法在不同类型LEO轨道的拟合、预报精度. 结果表明:采用合适的拟合策略,两种算法均能获得毫米级的插值精度;相较于滑动切比雪夫多项式,克里金算法拟合轨道的空间误差分布更为集中,未随着历元变化出现大幅波动. 克里金算法预报轨道的精度低于滑动切比雪夫多项式;采用克里金算法预报60 s,各颗LEO卫星轨道预报的精度在1~2.5 m;采用滑动切比雪夫多项式预报120 s,各颗LEO卫星可获得优于5 m的轨道精度.      

GPS radio holography as a tool for remote sensing of the atmosphere, mesosphere, and terrestrial surface from space

GPS radio occultation (RO) signals are highly coherent and precise, and thus sufficient for holographic investigation of the atmosphere, ionosphere, and the Earth's surface from space. In principle, three-dimensional radio-holographic remote sensing is possible by using new radio holographic equations to retrieve the radio field within the atmosphere from a radio field known at some interface outside the atmosphere. A simplified two-dimensional form of the radio-holographic equations which are developed under an assumption of local spherical symmetry can be used to obtain two-dimensional radio images of the atmosphere and terrestrial surface. To achieve this, radio holograms recorded by a GPS receiver onboard a low earth orbit (LEO) satellite at two GPS frequencies can be used and focused synthetic aperture principle applied. Analysis of GPS/MET RO data is presented to show the effectiveness of a radio-holographic approach. It is shown that the amplitude of GPS radio signals (in addition to phase data) can be used to obtain detailed altitude profiles of the vertical gradient of refractivity in the atmosphere and electron density in the mesosphere. The results demonstrate the applicability of GPS radio holography for a detailed global study of the natural processes in the atmosphere and mesosphere. Electronic Publication     

Estimation and analysis of GPS satellite DCB based on LEO observations

The Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite differential code bias (DCB) should be precisely calibrated when obtaining ionospheric slant total electron content (TEC). So far, it is ground-based GPS observations that have been used to estimate GPS satellite DCB. With the increased Low Earth Orbit (LEO) missions in the near future, the real-time satellite DCB estimation is a crucial factor in real-time LEO GPS data applications. One alternative way is estimating GPS DCB based on the LEO observations themselves, instead of using ground observations. We propose an approach to estimate the satellite DCB based on Constellation Observing System for Meteorology, Ionosphere, and Climate (COSMIC) and Challenging Minisatellite Payload (CHAMP) GPS observations during the years 2002–2012. The results have been validated through comparisons with those issued by Center for Orbit Determination in Europe (CODE). The evaluations indicate that: The approach can estimate satellite DCB in a reasonable way; the DCB estimated based on CHAMP observations is much better than those on COSMIC observations; the accuracy and precision of DCB show a possible dependency on the ionospheric ionization level. This method is significance for the real-time processing of LEO-based GNSS TEC data from the perspective of real-time applications.     

LEO卫星单频精密定轨电离层模型改进算法

电离层延迟的有效改正是LEO卫星单频精密定轨的关键所在。目前主要采用电离层比例因子法进行LEO卫星电离层延迟改正,但该方法在电子密度峰值高度确定时未考虑太阳活动、经纬度、昼夜变化、季节等因素的影响。IRI2012模型虽然考虑了上述因素对电子密度峰值高度的影响,但因其与电离层薄层高度选择的标准不一致,通常它们之间存在系统性偏差而无法直接使用。为此本文提出将电离层薄层高度作为约束条件对IRI2012模型确定的电子密度峰值高度的均值进行参数约束估计,得到一种改进的电离层模型算法,并利用Swarm卫星GPS观测数据对其进行验证。结果表明:改进的电离层模型对Swarm卫星径向、切向和法向定轨精度均有不同程度的提高,尤其对轨道径向和法向精度改善最为明显,分别提高了31.6%和32.0%;同时较大幅度地降低了轨道的系统性偏差,尤其是在径向和法向,分别平均降低了65.0%和54.7%。     

不同GPS掩星电离层剖面产品相关性分析

将在一定时空限定范围内的不同低轨卫星COSMIC、GRACE、CHAMP、FY3C的电离层掩星电子密度剖面定义为一个掩星对来对比分析不同类型掩星电离层产品。结果表明：COSMIC掩星对之间的电子密度剖面整体轮廓符合得很好，电子密度剖面主要在250 km以下和500 km以上存在较大的偏差，250~500 km的电子密度整体偏差较小，统计得到的COSMIC掩星对的电子密度参量NmF2和hmF2的相关系数能分别达到0.99和0.97，具有高度相关性，不同COSMIC卫星之间没有明显的系统误差；COSMIC、GRACE、CHAMP和FY3C不同低轨卫星间的电子密度剖面略有差异，通过统计电子密度参量NmF2和hmF2之间的相关系数，COSMIC和CHAMP的相关系数分别为0.95和0.86，COSMIC和GRACE的相关系数分别为0.98和0.94，COSMIC和FY3C的相关系数分别为0.96和0.92，不同掩星类型之间的电子密度参量之间也具有高度相关性，验证了不同卫星任务GPS掩星电离层剖面的一致性。     

低轨导航增强GNSS发展综述

低轨星座具有地面接收信号强度高、几何图形变化快的优势，能够与中高轨GNSS星座形成互补，对增强GNSS的精度、完好性、连续性和可用性具有显著优势，已成为当前卫星导航领域的关注热点。本文首先简要介绍了现有的GNSS增强系统；总结了国内外低轨导航增强星座发展现状；针对低轨导航增强，对比分析了高中低轨导航星座的优缺点；重点讨论了低轨导航增强在联合定轨、快速精密定位、空间天气监测和室内定位等方面带来的机遇；分析指出了低轨导航增强的空间段、地面段和用户段所面临的挑战。     

利用GPS掩星资料反演地球中性大气参数折射角方法研究

对利用GPS掩星资料反演地球中性大气参数的原理作了简要介绍，在此基础上对消除电离层影响的改正方法、Abel反演积分上限的确定、上边界测量折射角的优化方法进行了探讨。针对UCAR的Level2数据，在数据预处理工作的基础上，利用特定掩星事件的数据进行了反演计算，并对计算结果进行了分析。     

Artificial ionospheric wave number 4 structure below the F2 region due to the Abel retrieval of radio occultation measurements

We analyzed the effect of the Abel inversion on the wave number 4 (WN4) structure from the GPS radio occultation (RO)–measured electron densities by using the FORMOSAT-3/COSMIC (F-3/C) observations under the equinox condition. The Abel-retrieved electron density from both the F-3/C observations and the simulated results by an empirical model with an imposed WN4 structure in the F layer are investigated. It is found that the Abel inversion can reproduce the real WN4 structure well in the F2 layer. However, it will result in pseudo and reversed-phase WN4 structure in the lower altitude (F1 and E layers). Quantitatively, relative ±15% WN4 signature in the F2 layer can produce ±40% artificial WN4 in the E and F1 layers. Analysis on the F-3/C data shows about ±15% WN4 signature in the F2 layer and ±50% WN4 with reversed-phase in the E and F1 layers. The F-3/C-observed WN4 structure in the E and F1 layers might be the combinations of the real WN4 signature and the artificial effects of Abel retrieval.     

风云三号D星天基BDS实时定位性能分析

随着北斗三号卫星导航系统(BeiDou navigation satellite system-3, BDS-3)开始向全球提供导航服务,独立使用BDS为在轨运行的卫星提供全球覆盖、全时段的定位服务成为可能。结合风云三号D星(FengYun-3D, FY-3D)全球卫星导航系统掩星探测仪(global navigation satellite system occultation sounder, GNOS)的真实在轨数据对天基BDS的定位性能进行了详细的分析。首先,使用BDS真实广播星历计算了在不同轨道高度下的可见卫星数和定位精度因子（position dilution of precision, PDOP）,并结合精密星历分析了广播星历的轨道误差、时钟误差及空间信号测距误差(signal-in-space range error, SISRE)。仿真结果表明,在95%的置信水平下,从地面到2 000 km的轨道高度,BDS在全球范围内最小可见卫星数为6,最大PDOP小于5,星座可用性已经达到100%,全球平均可见卫星数BDS比GPS(global positioning syste...     

低轨道卫星重复周期的设计方法及其对重力场反演的影响

研究低轨卫星重复周期的设计原理,给出相应的计算公式。基于此对不同轨道高度卫星的重复周期进行数值仿真,并利用动力学方法分析不同重复周期轨道星下点轨迹的空间采样对重力场反演精度的影响。结果表明,卫星的重复周期与其轨道高度的变化并不成线性关系,并且在顾及重力场时间分辨率的情况下,长重复周期能够提高卫星地面轨迹的空间采样,为重力场解算提供较好的条件。     

Assessment of vertical TEC mapping functions for space-based GNSS observations

The mapping function is commonly used to convert slant to vertical total electron content (TEC) based on the assumption that the ionospheric electrons concentrate in a layer. The height of the layer is called ionospheric effective height (IEH) or shell height. The mapping function and IEH are generally well understood for ground-based global navigation satellite system (GNSS) observations, but they are rarely studied for the low earth orbit (LEO) satellite-based TEC conversion. This study is to examine the applicability of three mapping functions for LEO-based GNSS observations. Two IEH calculating methods, namely the centroid method based on the definition of the centroid and the integral method based on one half of the total integral, are discussed. It is found that the IEHs increase linearly with the orbit altitudes ranging from 400 to 1400 km. Model simulations are used to compare the vertical TEC converted by these mapping functions and the vertical TEC directly calculated by the model. Our results illustrate that the F&K (Foelsche and Kirchengast) geometric mapping function together with the IEH from the centroid method is more suitable for the LEO-based TEC conversion, though the thin layer model along with the IEH of the integral method is more appropriate for the ground-based vertical TEC retrieval.     

星蚀期北斗卫星轨道性能分析——SLR检核结果

星蚀期北斗卫星的轨道性能是北斗卫星导航系统性能分析的重要部分。了解北斗卫星导航系统星历中星蚀期轨道的精度,不仅可为系统服务性能评估提供支持,还有助于了解星蚀期精密定轨中相关模型可能存在的问题,进而为精密定轨函数模型改进提供参考。本文基于2014年1月至2015年7月的卫星激光测距资料,重点分析了星蚀期对北斗不同类型卫星轨道的影响,同时也对北斗广播星历和精密星历中整体轨道径向精度进行检核。结果表明:星蚀期内(尤其是偏航机动期间),IGSO/MEO卫星的广播星历和精密星历轨道均存在明显的精度下降;广播星历轨道径向误差达1.5~2.0m,精密星历轨道径向误差超过10.0cm。但仅从轨道径向残差序列中难以发现星蚀期对GEO卫星轨道是否有显著影响。非星蚀期间,IGSO/MEO卫星和GEO卫星的广播星历轨道径向精度分别优于0.5 m和0.9 m。IGSO/MEO卫星的精密星历轨道径向精度优于10.0cm,GEO卫星的轨道径向精度约50.0cm,且存在40.0cm左右的系统性偏差。     

Two-step method for the determination of the differential code biases of COMPASS satellites

The differential code bias (DCB) in satellites of the Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) should be precisely corrected when designing certain applications, such as ionospheric remote sensing, precise point positioning, and time transfer. In the case of COMPASS system, the data used for estimating DCB are currently only available from a very limited number of global monitoring stations. However, the current GPS/GLONASS satellite DCB estimation methods generally require a large amount of geographically well-distributed data for modeling the global ionospheric vertical total electron content (TEC) and are not particularly suitable for current COMPASS use. Moreover, some satellites with unstable DCB (i.e., relatively large scatter) may affect other satellite DCB estimates through the zero-mean reference that is currently imposed on all satellites. In order to overcome the inadequacy of data sources and to reduce the impact of unstable DCB, a new approach, designated IGGDCB, is developed for COMPASS satellite DCB determination. IGG stands for the Institute of Geodesy and Geophysics, which is located in Wuhan, China. In IGGDCB, the ionospheric vertical TEC of each individual station is independently modeled by a generalized triangular series function, and the satellite DCB reference is selected using an iterative DCB elimination process. By comparing GPS satellite DCB estimates calculated by the IGGDCB approach based on only a handful (e.g., seven) of tracking stations against that calculated by the currently existing methods based on hundreds of tracking stations, we are able to demonstrate that the accuracies of the IGGDCB-based DCB estimates perform at the level of about 0.13 and 0.10?ns during periods of high (2001) and low (2009) solar activity, respectively. The iterative method for DCB reference selection is verified by statistical tests that take into account the day-to-day scatter and the duration that the satellites have spent in orbit. The results show that the impact of satellites with unstable DCB can be considerably reduced using the IGGDCB method. It is also confirmed that IGGDCB is not only specifically valid for COMPASS but also for all other GNSS.     

联合GNSS/LEO卫星观测数据的区域电离层建模与精度评估

高精度的电离层模型对于提高导航卫星系统的定位精度具有重要意义。低轨卫星的快速发展为建立高精度的电离层模型提供了新的契机。基于仿真数据模拟获得2017年1月1日—30日LEO(low earth orbit)和GNSS(global navigation satellite system)卫星观测数据,星座类型包括60、96、192和288颗卫星,以非洲区域为例,利用该数据研究GNSS和LEO卫星穿刺点的覆盖情况和联合建模精度。结果表明:加入LEO卫星后,穿刺点分布改善明显,能够大幅度提高穿刺点密度;单颗低轨卫星穿刺点的范围比GNSS卫星大,LEO卫星的高度角和方位角变化明显;随着低轨卫星数量的增加,融合建模的精度也随之提高;在12:00时东经30°不同纬度范围内,单GNSS建模和GNSS+288 LEO建模差值最大为-1.6 TECU(total electron content unit);随着建模时长的增加,融合建模结果和单GNSS结果差值逐渐变小。     

小型化LEO星座与BDS-3全星座联合定轨仿真

受限于区域监测站及地球静止轨道(geosynchronous earth orbit,GEO)卫星的静地特性,北斗卫星导航系统(BeiDou satellite navigation system,BDS)定轨精度较差,加入低轨卫星(low earth orbit,LEO)星载数据可显著提升定轨精度.使用一种由24颗L...     

Pseudo-Stochastic Orbit Modeling Techniques for Low-Earth Orbiters

The Earth’s non-spherical mass distribution and atmospheric drag cause the strongest perturbations on very low-Earth orbiting satellites (LEOs). Models of gravitational and non-gravitational accelerations are utilized in dynamic precise orbit determination (POD) with GPS data, but it is also possible to derive LEO positions based on GPS precise point positioning without dynamical information. We use the reduced-dynamic technique for LEO POD, which combines the geometric strength of the GPS observations with the force models, and investigate the performance of different pseudo-stochastic orbit parametrizations, such as instantaneous velocity changes (pulses), piecewise constant accelerations, and continuous piecewise linear accelerations. The estimation of such empirical orbit parameters in a standard least-squares adjustment process of GPS observations, together with other relevant parameters, strives for the highest precision in the computation of LEO trajectories. We used the procedures for the CHAMP satellite and found that the orbits may be validated by means of independent SLR measurements at the level of 3.2 cm RMS. Validations with independent accelerometer data revealed correlations at the level of 95% in the along-track direction. As expected, the empirical parameters compensate to a certain extent for deficiencies in the dynamic models. We analyzed the capability of pseudo-stochastic parameters for deriving information about the mismodeled part of the force field and found evidence that the resulting orbits may be used to recover force field parameters, if the number of pseudo-stochastic parameters is large enough. Results based on simulations showed a significantly better performance of acceleration-based orbits for gravity field recovery than for pulse-based orbits, with a quality comparable to a direct estimation if unconstrained accelerations are set up every 30 s.     

Electron density profiles in the equatorial ionosphere observed by the FORMOSAT-3/COSMIC and a digisonde at Jicamarca

We examine for the first time the ionospheric electron density profiles concurrently observed by the GPS occultation experiment (GOX) onboard the FORMOSAT-3/COSMIC (F3/C) and the ground-based digisonde portable sounder DPS-4 at Jicamarca (12°S, 283°W, 1°N geomagnetic) in 2007. Our results show that the F3/C generally underestimates the F2-peak electron density NmF2 and the F2-peak height hmF2. On the other hand, when the equatorial ionization anomaly (EIA) pronouncedly appears during daytime, the total electron content (TEC) derived from the radio occultation of the GPS signal recorded by the F3/C GOX is significantly enhanced. This results in the NmF2 at Jicamarca being overestimated by the Abel inversion on the enhanced TEC during the afternoon period.